Hamilton council extends termination deadline for unvaccinated employees

Hamilton city council has extended the termination deadline for unvaccinated employees.

There was a lengthy and spirited debate at Hamilton city hall today on the motion to extend the deadline for unvaccinated employees to comply with the vaccine mandate.

The city said 322 employees would have faced termination on June 1st.

Protesters wanted city council to cancel the mandate before unvaccinated employees would have been fired.

The issue was discussed at today’s council meeting. Ward 7 councillor Esther Pauls argued that the vaccine mandate shouldn’t have been approved until the cost of terminating the 322 unvaccinated employees was provided to council.

Pauls brought forward a motion to give unvaccinated employees until September 30th before they are terminated.

Councillor John-Paul Danko proposed amendments where unvaccinated staff go on unpaid leave beginning June 1 and will be terminated on September 30th.

The amendments were defeated 5-9, while the original motion from Pauls passed, meaning unvaccinated employees will not face termination until September 30.

More than 95% of city employees are vaccinated.